Chapter 120 (1/2)
“They really are useless through and through. I should restructure my lands once I rise as a Duke.”
Marquis Lichten clicked his tongue, causing his knights to flinch before readying their arms. If they were to fall into the Marquis’s disfavor now, they would become obsolete, regardless of their achievements in this war.
“What you said before, what do you mean by that?”
“Is there a need for a dead man to know?”
“… I’d rather die knowing everything than die in frustrating ignorance.”
The Marquis pondered for a moment, then replied to Count Wolfgang with a devious grin.
“You can find out once you’re dead. We’ll end it here if you’re not going to send away your family. Finish them.”
Marquis Lichten’s knights took one step forward. Count Wolfgang’s soldiers, having recovered what little stamina they could during that conversation, gripped their weapons firmly.
The Marquis’s knights murmured in astonishment at their foes’ resolution, but Count Wolfgang stopped his men.
“Stop. You men have fought well. This is the end. My death alone will suffice.”
“We cannot let that happen!”
“We will die with you!”
Even the knights of the Marquis gazed at the Count with respect, but Wolfgang shook his head and repeated.
“Put your swords down. And… though I have no right to say this, I leave my daughters in your care.”
Pushed to an emotional breaking point, the Count’s knights and soldiers broke into tears, dropping their weapons. However, there was one pair of eyes that watched this emotional scene unfold full of envy.
He was the same. That strange charm he had that others flocked to. When only fools singing flattery gathered around him.
Green with envy, the Marquis spoke, displeased.
“Hmph! I’ve changed my mind. It’s about time for my grandchildren to get married. I think your daughters will make fine brides for them.”
Va.s.sals of Wolfgang clamoured in outrage, and even Wolfgang himself seemed to have been struck in the head.
“… What?”
“Even if the Dorothy Family is one of the Pendleton’s va.s.sals, I’m sure they have no choice but to allow a member of their branch family become the official wives of a Marquis Family.”
“You dare!”
“Kukuku. If you don’t want to see that, then drop your sword. You need to die begging for your life in front of your subjects. Disgracefully, I might add.”
The Marquis’ treacherous scheme to hara.s.s his daughters if he didn’t show shameful display was met with outrage from Wolfgang’s soldiers, but Wolfgang himself cared not. Thinking of his daughters, Wolfgang grudgingly dropped his sword, and Marquis Lichten embraced his twisted sense of victory, laughing maniacally.
“Kukuku. Take him away!”
Lichten’s knights stepped forward to restrain Wolfgang—when an annoyed voice from the entrance stopped them in their tracks.
“Ah, everything was good but what’s with that ending? It’s like ruining a good movie by adding some stupid twist at the end.”
“Isaac!”
“…”
Wolfgang’s face reddened into a fury at the appearance of an unexpected individual, while the Marquis grimaced.
“You money-grubbing piece of filth!”
Wolfgang’s side vented out their anger on Isaac knowing he had betrayed them while Marquis Lichten’s side stood awkwardly, reading the mood.
Wolfgang’s soldiers cursed and swore at Isaac venomously, but it only went in one ear and out the next. Isaac lit his cigarette and spoke.
“Since everything is over, let me ask you a question.”
“… What is it?”
“Lord Wolfgang!”
Wolfgang’s men shouted in dismay when Wolfgang answered Isaac’s request, but Wolfgang simply shook his head.
“What is your question?”
“I found out that you and Lichten have some family feud.”
“… That’s right. Because of Lichten’s scheme, our family was on the verge of collapse, and I swore to spend my entire life seeking vengeance. I searched for compatriots during my time in Campus, victims who were on the verge of collapse or had already collapsed from similar circ.u.mstances as I. We could join together in our common goal, to destroy the Lichten Family and create a world where no one else will fall victim to a High n.o.ble’s whim. But it’s just a broken dream now…”
Wolfgang cursed his own aspirations at the end, but Isaac simply loosened his s.h.i.+rt’s collar as he snickered.
“So, do you think the answer to my homework was in line with what you were thinking, damsel? Or was it different?”
While everyone looked dumbfounded by Isaac’s comment, Count Wolfgang’s face contorted.
“Lady Rivelia? Even the Pendletons are involved in this?”
Count Wolfgang shouted out in bewilderment, and Isaac corrected him.
“It’s not the Pendletons.”
“Sir Isaac, there are too many ears here!”
Marquis Lichten quickly interjected to stop Isaac, and Isaac shrugged nonchalantly as he replied.
“What’s the problem? Everyone on the Count’s side will die; and didn’t you say that you’d be restructuring your lands later?”
“Are you telling me to kill my men with my own two hands?!”
The Marquis’ somewhat awe-inspiring words made his va.s.sals look up to Marquis with respect, but Isaac sighed as if he was truly tired of everything.
“I swear, they always talk big when they have men behind their back. Why don’t you quiet him down a little.”
Immediately, Black Bandits poured through the entrance and ma.s.sacred Lichten’ men before he could even react.
“Kuack!”
“You are!”
Lichten’s knights fell victim to the bolts of Black Bandit’s crossbows even before they could react, and those that survived the hail of bolts were beheaded.
“W, What the… You dare! What treachery is this!”
Marquis Lichten, who was dismayed as he watched his men die in droves, shouted out in anger. Wolfgang’s va.s.sals couldn’t understand why the Black Bandits, the cause of their defeat, were present here or listened to Isaac’s orders. Only Count Wolfgang seemed to have grasped the truth and trembled as he glared at Isaac.
“Should I take it as an honour? That our growth was seen as dangerous to Pendleton?”